Pistol cal. carbine fans, what do you love about them?

[Swing]

I've always liked'em. Though evidently most others don't, because recent history is littered with discontinued models (e.g., Marlin Camp carbines, Ruger PC, Ruger Standard 44, etc.). As to why they are nice:

1. Light and short, generally. So they pack easy. When I was younger, I hiked a lot, so a carbine made more sense.
2. Same ammo as the pistols.
3. Little recoil.
4. Little noise.
5. Some use the same mags as pistols.
6. Up until recently, cheap to shoot.

 

[Dr.Rob]

My Marlin 44 mag carbine is one of the most fun guns I own. Short, handy, powerful. A lot of 'pop' for the weight. Less weight than a loaded 12 ga pump full of slugs, and with better accuracy at 100 yards. Can handle the same powerful loads as my Vaquero, but hold ten rounds.

 

[Bezoar]

remembered something

30 carbine is technically a pistol round, lots of people still want a genuine m1 carbine for social and funtime use. Its why theyve been made so long, and auto odnance makesmoney on them.

and citadel has theres.

and if you wanted to, any one who has a ruger 10/22 or similar has a "un useful" PISTOL caliber carbine.

22 rimfire truly is a pistol round.

 

[barnbwt]

Lots of reasons not to bring more gun when it's not needed (though often ignored):

-Shorter action (shorter cartridges)
-Lighter receiver (lower bolt thrust = smaller structural members)
-Better SBR efficiency (+10" barrel ads little for pistol rounds, but hamstrings rifle rounds)
-Lighter ammunition (better for both carry and hicap magazine feeding speed)
-Less overpressure, flash, and noise (esp. for +16" barrels)
-Better subsonic suppressed performance (fatter, heavier bullets)
-Lighter suppressors (see: less over pressure)
-Low enough velocity for cast bullets to be used
-Very low recoil without the need for noisy/wasteful blast direction
-Typically very simple blowback designs for semi-autos
-More practical super-hi-cap applications (drums, coffin mags)

To be honest, the only real critique people have for them falls back to them not being as powerful as more powerful guns that cost the same. To me, that's something of an apples/oranges justification, since we'd all agree there's a time and place for both 223 and 30-06, yet somehow 223 can do everything that does not warrant a 30-06. I argue there is a floor to how low a 223 remains compelling, and that below that a pistol round is better suited. And below that, a 22LR (and that's the bottom floor )

TCB

 

[Victoratsea]

44 magnum carbines

As northeast woods hunters, my buddies and I like 44 magnum carbines for what they are; short, light, handy, effective hunting rifles. 99% of our shots on deer and black bears are at less than 100 yds. , usually much less. The Ruger 44 carbines and 1894 Marlins we favor are fast, accurate, and easy to handle. Newbies, youngsters, and female hunters we sometimes invite on our trips find the light recoil and traditional looks of these rifles less intimidating. The 240 gr. sp. loads we use are highly effective at knocking down game quick. We also find that these guns are much less intimidating to city folks who happen by than tacticool guns like the AR platform, which makes us all look better in the public eye.

 

[Speedo66]

Several states only allow PCC, along with shotguns, for hunting. Personally, I'm much more accurate with a rifle than a shotgun with slugs, so it would be my choice.

 

[minutemen1776]

Ballistically, my 9mm AR cannot keep up with my 5.56 NATO AR. That said, I still enjoy my 9mm AR. Why? (1) Ammo costs about half as much; (2) it's easier to shoot well; (3) I can shoot it at indoor ranges; and (4) even for defensive purposes, a good 9mm out of a 16-inch barrel works quite well at close range. No, it will not replace my 5.56, but the 9mm still has its own place.